DNA
DNA has a double helix structure but this was only discovered in the 1950s. This discovery led to three scientists, Watson, Crick and Wilkins gaining a Nobel prize in 1962. However another scientist, Rosalind Franklin, had carried out much of the research leading to this discovery. For background reading you might like to read these articles, (not completely essential for Higher Biology but interesting background reading and awareness of the recent history of science). It is so very recently that DNA structure was realised, and so many scientific advances and discoveries have then been possible as a result of this.
A couple of articles about the Story of Rosalind Franklin and her X-ray chromatography to find the structure of DNA :http://womenshistory.about.com/od/sciencechemistry/p/franklin_dna.htmhttp://dnaandsocialresponsibility.blogspot.co.uk/2010/10/public-unveiling-of-frieze-celebrating.html
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Amazing Scale of DNA

This does not really come up in Higher, but this just gives an idea of the sheer scale of DNA. When you look at a chromosome you are looking at many many looped up sections of DNA ! How on earth did this ever evolve !
This video gives a good idea of the scale of DNA being packaged around the histone proteins:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbSIBhFwQ4s&t=7s
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Details of DNA structure at 3' and 5' ends
You need to know what is at 3' end and 5' end of DNA so have a good look at the structure here :

Interesting reference about prokaryotes, autotrophs, bacteria, staining bacteria, cyanobacteria, etc. and their evolution and how they relate to eukaryotes in evolutionary time :
(New reference needed...)

The Scale of Cells, Bacteria and Viruses etc.
A nice interactive example - use the slider to change the scale to show the size of various things like cells and viruses.Spot the size of the prokaryotic bacteria E.coli versus the eukaryotic human cell examples :http://learn.genetics.utah.edu/content/begin/cells/scale/

My photograph of tree rings from Aberfoyle Forest - showing the softer areas and how the chainsaw chopping the tree down has affected the soft and hard wood. The new xylem and the cambium and phloem are on the top of my picture :

Some stem cell experiments etc used frog eggs (sometimes known as oocytes) as they are large to handle. To find out a little more about frog spawn / tadpoles / frogs etc then have a look at this very short video - the commentary is actually quite interesting if you can manage to hear what they are saying:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgCL3JenMCs

(for extra reading if you are interested - but its not necessary for Higher - study of finches and evolution - some ideas - eg is a species more likely to divide into two different groups when subject to no competition ? etc. does this mean competition increases genes expressed ? or will a species express a narrower range of genes (be healthier) when competing...) http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2014/03/bird-evolution/
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Genetic Control - Jacob - Monod Hypothesis
E.Coli - lactose metabolism
A good video - tells you just a little bit more about the theory than you need but it helps to understand how cleverly evolved bacteria are in how they manage to use lactose as a food supply if they find some in their environment.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBwtxdI1zvk

Look its real !
You really can buy restriction endonucleases like BAM HI if you are working in a genetics laboratory or research organisation :https://www.neb.com/products/r0136-bamhi
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Chromatography of Leaf Pigments
This short video shows a time-elapsed film of the Leaf pigment chromatography experiment to separate chlorophyll a and b, carotene and xanthophyll : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6jD0hJO-28_______________________________________________Chapter 15 Photosynthesis and Productivity

A very simple video showing the effect of light or dark on Elodea pondweed :http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRMKiLlpATk
If you can collect the oxygen bubbles and measure volume of oxygen given off under different conditions of light intensity etc.Make an Action Spectrum for Photosynthesis in Different coloured light
AND !! I have now made a video showing Elodea Pondweed photosynthesising in different colours of light from sunlight.

Watch the video in Full Screen,

Count the bubbles in each test tube that appear over the minute of the video.

Repeat for each test tube and ...

Graph your results to make an Action Spectrum for the pondweed photosynthetic pigments.

Send me a copy of your graphs I would love to see them ! (to milngavietutors@gmail.com)

Nice diagram of Photosynthesis Carbon Fixation :
(you do not need to know about the numbers of carbons but this helps me understand what is happening !) I adapted this is from an old diagram from the old Biology Higher book - Jim Torrance

Coral Bleaching - excellent short 3 minute video explaining about the symbiosis in Corals and what can go wrong with climate change :https://www.hhmi.org/biointeractive/coral-bleachingUnit 3 : Part 6 - Social Behaviour
Chimpanzees hunt together in a co-operative way, with different individuals having different roles.
This video combines on-the-ground footage and overhead infrared to illustrate just how this group of chimpanzees hunt colobus monkeys. Incredible but not for the faint hearted to watch … Nature in the raw ….!!

Invasive Species
Non native species which cause harm to environment, other species or human health
From the Encyclopaedia of Life - EOL website - http://eol.org/info/460

Invasive species
You will see this invasive species Skunk Cabbage in the RIver Allander at Miilngavie It is spreading downstream and originates up at Barloch Moor where people volunteer to destroy it each year: